California Music Teacher Allegedly Filled Students' Flutes With Semen

Parents were warned Saturday that a music teacher with a nonprofit group may have handed out flutes to schoolchildren that were tainted with his own semen. A state and federal investigation was under way into whether youngsters at schools around Southern California may have received tainted flutes.

The Los Angeles Unified School District said it was cooperating in an investigation of alleged “inappropriate sexual conduct involving a musical performer” that affected at least 13 school districts.

Southern California districts notified parents by email on Friday and Saturday that a performer associated with the nonprofit group Flutes Across the World was being investigated.

“The performer distributes a flute-like musical instrument made of PVC pipe or bamboo to students during a music lesson, and the allegation is that he contaminated some of these instruments with semen,” Joan Lucid, superintendent of the Saugus Union School District, notified parents on Saturday, the Orange County Register reported.

OH COME ON! What the heck is wrong with journalists these days? No one is taught the Six W's (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How) anymore?! I just read the original newspaper article and not one word is given as to why there is a suspicion that the flutes were tainted or how the issue was first raised.

You cannot run a headline like that and then fail to address half the darn story. This story would fail Journalism 101. Ugh!

Update: I found another article in The Washington Post. There, the reporter at least had the good sense to include this sentence: "It’s unclear what prompted the investigation or how school officials came to suspect that the flutes may have been contaminated."

Bonus: The reporter's name about the funny flutes is--wait for it--Amy Wang.

squrlz4ever I agree completely - glad I'm not paying for that publication. Sadly, publication does not require journalism. Such is the payment for the richness of a world where anyone with a computer can publish anything.

Who knows, maybe a rival charitable organization leading a smear campaign. Or perhaps someone with a grudge against messaging that accompanied the flutes (many religious groups wrap a generous offer to schools for the opportunity to speak to the children). Maybe another such group were upset that their access was superseded by this group.

Lots of potential motives for a false accusation.

As well, of course, of a legitimate whistleblower bringing something horrible to the authorities.